Dynasty Grinders Minor League Draft Recap -

In January, we told you that we were joining a startup Dynasty Fantasy Baseball league and that we would be bringing you regular updates on the league. Well this past weekend, we started our Minor League snake draft, ahead of our MLB Auction draft in March.

With out first pick, fourth overall, we selected pitcher Tyler Glasnow of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mike liked J.P. Crawford, the Phillies future SS and Brant liked
Alex Reyes, another future stud pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. I originally wanted Twins starter Jose Berrios, but after a long discussion and more research, we concluded Glasnow was our best option.

Tyler Glasnow, a tall 6-7 future Ace or mid-rotation starter, pumps fastballs in the mid-90's, and he is working on his change up to boost his pitching repertoire. Last year, Glasnow fought through an ankle injury, and he pitched well at three levels of the minors. Glasnow mowed down 82 batters in 63 IP at AA Altoona, which led to a 11.7 K/9. When he moved up to AAA, he kept a 10.5 K/9, but his walks increased from 2.7 bb/9 in AA to 4.8 bb/9 in 41 AAA IP. Steamer projects a 9.0 K/9 once he reaches the major leagues in 2016. Some scouts like his curve ball as a plus pitch while his change up could be an average pitch this year, and scouts hope that he can refine his control issues to provide another young, strong SP, in addition to Gerrit Cole, for the Pittsburgh rotation. Steamer projects the Pirates to call up Glasnow for 55 IP in 2016. - @BrantChesser

This was a video we made in response to Hydra. If you want to skip over the Lonely Island, fast forward to 45 seconds.

Coming into the draft, I really had just one basic strategy: grab at least two good, MLB-ready pitching prospects within the first three or four rounds. So many of the available hitters, particularly at the top of my rankings, look similar to me.

Taking Julio Urias was easy, particularly after Lucas Giolito went a pick earlier. I had actually been planning to take Tyler Glasnow, but talked myself out of it a day or two before we started picking. I still love Glasnow, but I think I would've been getting too cute there. Urias is a phenom and I'm pumped to have snapped him up.

The decision to spend a later pick (30th overall) and some auction cash to move up to get Blake Snell wasn't something I'd anticipate having the chance to do. Headed into the draft, my tiers looked like this:

Tier 1: Giolito, Urias

Tier 2: Glasnow, Alex Reyes, Snell, Jose Berrios

I figured I'd land Urias and then someone I had in Tier 3 or 4, which would probably mean reaching for a guy at some point over a more highly valued hitter. So when the 13th pick went on sale publicly, I sniffed around it, because Snell was on the board, he was the last of what I perceived as a well-defined tier, and getting him would satisfy my goal of two good, MLB-ready pitchers. I tend to be pretty aggressive with trade blocks anyway. If you list someone or something as available, I'll usually inquire (unless I totally hate the player or have no room to fit him). Worst case, there's no deal to be had. Best case, the price is right and I can improve my team.

Having said all that, both these pitchers make me a little bit nervous and super excited. Urias is super young. But that he's so dominant in his youth makes the ceiling that much higher. Scouts didn't have much to say about Snell until midway through 2015. But he out-performed nearly every one of his peers across three minor league levels. Pitchers arms are mangled messes and I live in perpetual fear of injury. But there's nothing I can do about that. - @bingelistening

Jordan on drafting Jesse winker and Jeff Hoffman

With the 15th and 18th selection I saw
myself grasping for first round talent with a depleted pool. I was
hoping for Blake Snell to slip though to 15, it didn't happen. Winker
was someone I was hoping to grab at 18, I took him at 15. Swanson was
considered for 18, but he got taken at 17 so that left me with a large
group of guys and nobody clearly the favorite. Wanting to get a pitcher
who could probably help me in 2017 I took Jeff Hoffman. Definitely a
problem being a Colorado pitcher, but I think he can stick. In the end,
without a clear favorite to choose, I went with two guys who were closer
to the big leagues, high floor, less high ceiling guys. Overall I'm
happy with where I'm at given the pick I drew. - @SickLiketheWind

Dan's thoughts on first two rounds

The draft has
gone pretty much as expected, though there seems to be a modest
preference to guys in the upper minors reflecting many owners desire to
"win now". Jordan probably had the most surprising picks with Winker
and Hoffman. Winker's and Hoffman's ranks on the national lists aren't
great, but I liked the Winker pick especially given his OBP skills. -@danbeachler

After grabbing a future ace in Tyler Glasnow in the first round, we were hoping San Diego Padres prospect, Manuel Margot hung around long enough for us to grab him in the second. We felt like we got a steal with Margot, considering this kid was the center piece in the Craig Kimbrel
trade and some experts have him ranked as high as the #17 overall prospect for 2016. Margot will likely be ready to contribute in the bigs for the start of the 2017 season and has the tools to be a great player. He’s a little undersized at 5’11 and 170 lbs but he is a freak athlete with blazing speed and his swing finds the gap often. Last year, in 110 games in the minors, Margot hit .276 with 27 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 50 RBI and 39 stolen bases. At just 21 years of age, Margot could really benefit from another year in the minors and his numbers should continue to improve. Even though he has an aggressive approach at the plate, he only struck out 51 times in 439 at-bats. - @Mike_WeTalkFS